Hospice series 4 ~ Lead to the training

This Story is continued from Hospice series 3 ~Keeping connection.



The year 2011.



More than 4 years has passed since I was introduced to Hospice society for the first time, and 2 years has passed since the Jikiden Reiki event in 2009.



My life was becoming easier every year since my youngest child was 
out of diapers,
putting his shoes on by himself, 
putting his PJ on by himself,,,.


Those little things take time, you know.

 

                               Meanwhile, the oldest one's first teeth fell out, the middle one
                                      starting to try out her new bike,,,,, many things are happening 
                                      in these young lives ! ! ! 



Then, he was too bored to stay home with mom in his pre-school age 
(not like the other older two children), so he was in pre-school few times 
a week and I started to have my own precious 2 hours here and there.



     2 hours goes by really quick when I tried to fit many things! 
     (Post office, grocery shopping, and second hand store shopping 
      would be the maximum.) Too precious to spend time with a friend 
     for just a cup of coffee at this point ! 




Then, FINALLY, my youngest child was in school, FULL TIME!
I finally started to have 6 hours of my own time, 5 days/week, after 9 years devoting
to my children 24/7 ! (Well, this is too exaggerated as I have a very supportive
husband who gives me free time whenever I want.) 


The exciting story of my new 6 hours is here.  


Anyways, the most thing I wanted to do is more Reiki. When I hear someone is sick,
I would ask,
"I wonder if she/he would be open for Reiki?"
 and I would visit her/him.



One day, I was invited to a home party of natural skin care company, 
we were asked a question,
"If you have as much money and time as you want, what would you want to do?"



In various answers like ,
"Cruise all year around."
"Gardening and grow my own food all the time."
"Donate to the good cause, and travel around the world."




I said,
"I want to build a Alternative Health care centre and have many Reiki practitioners,
and help cancer patients and people in a serious disease with Reiki."



I was quite serious with my answer as if I was already given 1 million dollars!




A lady heard my answer and perhaps she gave my phone number to her
friend who was fighting a breast cancer.


About 5 month later from that day, I had a phone call from a lady, 
and this story will lead to Leanne's story. 


I visited Leanne for 3~5 days/week for many months as a support for her
cancer treatment. 

After few month of doing Reiki visit, she told me, 


"I finally realized how Reiki works for the cancer patient. It brings a complete peace to myself and to my family."  here is the story.


When I heard her words, the desire of doing Reiki at Hospice started to bubble up.


I went home and look for the Chilliwack Hospice Society website to look for
 the information about the Hospice Volunteer Training schedule.


And found out that the volunteer training will be starting in 2 month which works
perfect for me this time.


In past few years, the training was offered in March which didn't work for me as I would be away for Vancouver for Jikiden Reiki trainings, but for some reason, it was offered
in April this time and it was perfect for me!




I signed up for the training right on the spot.




Finally, the time has come after about 5 years of incubating my feeling for
the Hospice society ... 



to be continued,,,

Hospice series 3 ~ Keeping connection

 Continue from the last post Hospice series 2 ~ Making Connection 

Before get into my connection with Hospice, 

I want to explain a bit of my back ground.

I was introduced Jikiden Reiki in 2006 March.  The seminar was only in 

Japanese for Japanese people lived in BC.

In 2007, I took Shihankaku course (Level 1 teacher course) and it was again 

in Japanese for Japanese people lived in BC.  I suggested my teacher Mr.Yamaguchi 

that would he consider to do his seminar with English translation, and his answer was "Yes, if he could find an interpreter."  

Without any proper translation training nor interpreter license, I jumped in 

without a doubt. It would be a good thing to do to spread this wonderful teaching.

 More stories --- Mission as a translator 1~3

Next year in 2008, we did our first Jikiden Reiki seminar in Vancouver with an

English translation for English speakers.

Then the year after in 2009, I took over the work to organize the entire seminar.

So, when I took over the position as an organizer, I started to think how could I use 

this opportunity to bring the awareness of Jikiden Reiki to the public.  

This is what I did to keep the connection with Chilliwack Hospice Society.

I arranged a Jikiden Reiki talk show for the people who didn't know about

the Jikiden Reiki, and people who couldn't attend Mr.Yamaguchi's seminar.

I was already too busy with the seminar arrangement, so I asked for help

from my friends to arrange this event.

I wanted to gather 60 people. One of the reason I wanted to have 

as many people as possible was so I could donate my portion of 

the net profit to Chilliwack Hospice Society.

I invited Lucy and other people from the Chilliwack Hospice Society to 

join this evening, so Lucy could receive the donation certificate at 

the end of the event.

Many orbs (spirits) started to show up to this events.

The event was held at Havana Restaurant on Commercial Drive in Vancouver 

for $15/person.

People really enjoyed Mr.Yamaguchi's talk with opening/closing with a local singer

song writer,Rae Armour's songs with guitar. 

(Which I don't have photos because I was on the stage,,,)

Towards the end, we mentioned about part the profit from this evening with Mr.Yamaguchi will be donated to Chilliwack Hospice Society.

I see the orb on the left top corner.

       By the way, I believe in "Orbs" the spirits lights that show up on the photos. 

       They are round and different than dust/snow/rain drops/ that show up on the photos.

      What I believe about the Orbs on the photos is that when Orbs are in the photo,

      spirits are confirming that people in the photos are on the right path and truly enjoying

      the moments.

SO, this is the photo when we were just about giving the donation certificate
to Lucy the bunny lady who I met at the office of the Chilliwack Hospice Society.

Bright orb above Lucy's head !

When I saw this photo, I felt so good that spirits were also happy about what we 

were doing ! (Such a bright orb showed up above Lucy's head ! )

I didn't know how much I could donate for the Chilliwack Hospice Society until 

the evening was done, because I wasn't sure how many were coming.  

It was about 35 people all together (with few people were invited with no cost) and 

total donation cost was calculated after deducting the rent of the venue.

When I calculated the portion to give to Mr.Yamaguchi and gave an envelop of 

his portion, I casually mentioned that all my portion would be going to 

Chilliwack Hospice Society.

He looked at me with amaze, and said, 

"Really? So, you don't receive any of the money from this event?"

I said, 

" No. That's why I wanted to gather at least 60 people so I could donate more money. 

But  I could only gather 35 people.... I think Chilliwack Hospice Society would be 

happy with any amount though. "

Without any hesitation, Mr.Yamaguchi returned the envelope back to me and said,

"Add this to the donation."

I said,

"Oh, I didn't mean to ask you to give your portion as well."

He said,

"It is a good cause, and I would like to join to your idea."

It was a smaller amount than I was planning to, but it all went to 

Chilliwack Hospice Society.

This was one of the way I kept the connection with Chilliwack Hospice Society

until the time I could donate my time.

My story of the Hospice society will be continued,,,,

Hospice series 2 ~ Making connection

Continued from Hospice series 1.  

It was 2007 when I heard about Hospice Society in Chilliwack.

My life was VERY busy just by being a mom with 3 children, they were 1year old boy, 3 years old girl and 5 years old boy. Also I was already giving Reiki treatments daily bases, and teaching Jikiden Reiki classes about bi-monthly. 


It was impossible for me to do any kind of volunteer work.


However, I really wanted to meet a lady who did a interview for my friend
at the Hospice.


I can't never forget the day when I met Lucy (who is now Executive Director at the Chilliwack Hospice Society).


I actually don't remember what I talked with her, but I do remember the first thing Lucy said to me even before we introduced each other.


In a very casual and friendly manner,
"Oh hi! Please be careful not to step on my rabbit when you have a seat. I am an animal lover and I have my bunny somewhere here. "

I LOVED it right away ! 

I was expecting the Hospice might be more serious environment, but meeting with Lucy
made me feel at home right from the beginning.


I found out that I would be able offer Reiki treatments for the Hospice patients, but
I would have to go through Hospice volunteer training. It would be 2 times a week for 5 weeks.

I wasn't sure if I could commit myself to even go through all the trainings,
but also volunteer work at that time of my life.



So, I decided to donate some money to the Hospice Society when I make extra money (well, it sounds like generous, but it was a small amount of money...) until I would be able to share my time as a volunteer.


That's all I could do at that time. 



I kept in touch with Chilliwack Hospice Society for few years by donating small amount
of money here and there, but in 2009, I came up with an idea ! 


to be continued,,, to Hospice series 3 

Hospice series 1 ~Meeting

Some of you might know I am now volunteering for Chilliwack Hospice Society.


Please, please take a moment to open this video clip. It is such a wonderful group.

Anyways, I didn't know anything about "Hospice", I didn't know the meaning of "Hospice", I haven't heard the word "Hospice" until 5~6 years ago.


I met Hospice, because of Reiki.

But, I didn't know anything about Reiki before I met Reiki. (please visit my blog page of why I started to do Reiki) 
I didn't know anything about Hospice before I met Hospice.


However, both Reiki and Hospice became to be a BIG part of my life now.

Life is very interesting.

I learned Reiki, because I simply wanted to help my child who was suffering 
with severe case of eczema. Then I got excited about Reiki, and pursued to 
a Reiki teacher course and started to teach Reiki. Not knowing Reiki would 
change my life completely.



This is my first introduction to the Chilliwack Hospice Society.
 My friend was attending a ESL class and she had to interview with 
a Hospice worker as part of a school project. Through the interview, 
my friend heard that Hospice society offers energy healing sessions for 
their clients. 

She thought I would be interested in knowing what Hospice Society is 
offering because of my deep passion for Reiki, which is a form of 
energy healing technique. 



She said to me,
"Do you know Hospice Society?"


I said,
"Hospice?  Is it a Hospital?"


She said,
"Hospice is a facility for people who at the end of the life. They support
people who are dying, and their families."

Rrrrring ! 

... Support the people who are dying?  I love that idea !

So, I went crazy to research about Hospice society. I found it very fascinating that

there is a organization that support people to have a peaceful death.

By the way,

I am a firm believer of reincarnation. I know death is not the end of the life.

Because, I feel spirits around me all the time, I sense they are trying to connect

with us (alive people), I hear sounds they are trying to make. So I know they are

not dead, but still alive in a different form.

I just don't "see" them. 
I remember as a child, I was so scared of ghosts, even though I had never 
seen it before.  


I always bring my little hands in prayer position and look up the sky and begged,

"God and Buddha, please don't give me a gift of being able to see ghost and spirits!"

Anyways,

I just love the idea of supporting people who are dying, so their transition 
to the death will be peaceful. I believe peaceful death will bring a peaceful birth 
as our life is just like a season. 

I believe, Birth-youth-older-death is the cycle of the life, it repeats and continues.

I also think, it doesn't have to start with Birth. It can be Older-death-birth-youth.

It could be death-birth-youth-older. In other words, we can start our life anytime. 



That means, we can reset our life anytime.

I don't remember when I started to think this way, but probably from Buddhist monks teaching through many funerals and memorial service that I have attended...

So, this is just the beginning of how I ended up volunteering with Hospice Society....

Not so exciting story, but I still love writing about it!

Continue to Hospice series 2.

Sunflower 5 ~Together

This story is continuing from Sunflower 4 ~ Friendship.


OK, so, we both went to Japan in the summer of 2000.

I went back to my home town Nagasaki, he went to Osaka to live with his girlfriend. It is about 750km away.

It had been almost 1 year since I left Japan and I was very excited to meet my friends, sisters and relatives.  

When I arrived, everything seemed to be just as same as 1 year ago, but I felt like my perspective had changed. I noticed the small things of Japanese life .


"So many people everywhere!"


"Always crowded bus!"

"MacDonald's drink seems so small!"


"No refill for coffee??"


"Neck tie and suit for the hot summer?" 

 "Fire crackers noise every night?" (Summer time in Nagasaki)

 

"Everyone is texting?"

I also noticed how good the customer service is !!  I really think Japan is one of the best

country to learn a good customer service !

Everyone is bowing. either just tilting the neck while waving good bye to the friends, or giving a really good bowing.

And, FOOD !!  Food is so delicious! 

Anyways, 

He came to visit Nagasaki with his girlfriend. I took them for sight seeing around the town. We had a good dinner together and they stayed in my small apartment.

I had things to sort out, decision to make, took care of my sister's family while my niece fell in serious illness.

Soon after, I made a final decision to go back to Canada and study more about business, accountings, e-commerce, so I could perhaps get a real job in Vancouver and start a new life from zero.  This time, I didn't know how long I would be gone from Japan, so I rented a storage room to keep furnitures and stuff. 

Around the same time, he was trying to make his decision if he would go back to Canada, because he couldn't stand the heat and humid in Japan, and also starting to realize that his girlfriend might not be the life time soul mate... 

In a fall of the year 2000.

Off I went. To Vancouver. Attending to a business college for a new journey.

Of he went. To Chilliwack. Starting his life all over.

We had reunited again as friends, still didn't realize that the life time soul mate

was right in front of each other.

But things started to roll, together this time.

Romance.

Wedding.

Baby.

Then a baby.

Then,,,, a baby.

This is how the sunflower brought me the precious life that I have now.

Thank you sunflower, and thank you everyone came to 

my life in a past, present, and also in a future.

Sunflower series, it's the end... 

It's been a while ... blog is coming up soon !

OK, it's been too long since I had posted the last story, isn't it ?

Thank you for people who mention to me 

"What is happening to your blog site?", "I gave up to open your blog, because it hasn't updated since September! "


It made me realize that it wasn't only me who were enjoying writing my own story, but there were people who were also enjoying reading my blog :)

Thank you so much !  



After the last post, I had gone to Halifax to do another translation for my Jikiden Reiki
 teacher, Mr.Yamaguchi in October, 2012.

I was wiped out for a while. You can visit my older post of "Mission as a translator 1" (series of 1~3 stories).  
I slept and slept for 16 hours per day for 3 days, and was able to recover from the wiped out brain ! 



Then I had an opportunity of volunteering with Chilliwack Hospice Society as a co-facilitator for a bereavement group of people who lost family member died of suicide.

The group started in November, and it was supposed to be for 8 weeks, but it turned out to be 12 weeks session.


I was quite bit wiped out for a while....  


I will write about this wonderful opportunity of volunteering at Hospice society from now on. Well, after I finish my Sunflower stories ! 


Few people told me that the Sunflower series aren't finished, so I will add one more story, then move on to the volunteer stories.

Please give me some time and visit again soon !

Thank you!